N01065:36
A discourse concerning the maintenance due to those that preach the Gospel
A discourse concerning the maintenance due to those that preach the Gospel: in which, that question whether tithes are by the divine law the ministers due, is considered, and the negative proved. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Seven lines of Scripture texts]
printed by B. Green, 1706
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. The Argument insisted on by the profoundly Learned Mr. Joseph Mede, deserves consideration. He reasons thus, God deals very favourably with men if He requires only a Tenth, since that is the least part of our Goods, according to the first division. For as Ten is the Periodical number of a fixed and substantial nature; so when we proceed beyond Ten, we begin to make a new division, as eleven is ten and one, twelve is ten & two, &c. Thus as the number of seven is the ⟨p. 43⟩Periodical number of Time, God has been favourable to men in commanding only a Seventh part of Time, to be perpetually consecrated to His Service: So in accepting the Tenth of our Incomes. Ten beginning the greater number, and concluding the smaller, has been esteemed proper for Him who is the first Cause, & the last end of all things. With a Seventh day He is acknowledged the Creator, and with a Tenth part, the Possessor of all things.
1. The Argument insisted on by the profoundly Learned Mr. Ioseph Mede, deserves consideration. He reasons thus, God deals very favourably with men if He requires only a Tenth, since that is the least part of our Goods, according to the first division. For as Ten is the Periodical number of a fixed and substantial nature; so when we proceed beyond Ten, we begin to make a new division, as eleven is ten and one, twelve is ten & two, &c. Thus as the number of seven is the ⟨p. 43⟩Periodical number of Time, God has been favourable to men in commanding only a Seventh part of Time, to be perpetually consecrated to His Service: So in accepting the Tenth of our Incomes. Ten beginning the greater number, and concluding the smaller, has been esteemed proper for Him who is the first Cause, & the last end of all things. With a Seventh day He is acknowledged the Creator, and with a Tenth part, the Possessor of all things.
2. Before the Institution of the Ceremonial or Judicial Law, the Tenth was due to God. Abraham gave Tithe of all to Melchizedek,